He's The One, Who Likes All Our Pretty Songs, And He Likes To Sing Along, And He Likes To Shoot His Gun, But He Don't Know What It Means
--"In Bloom", Nirvana
I'm a man of mercurial temperament. There are a lot of times when I'll place myself categorically in one camp or school of thought, only to reverse my position months or even weeks later. Yes, for the most part, on the weightier issues I tend towards stubbornness but on a great many subjects I fall to rule-making.
Rule-making as many of my friends can point out is where I already have made a decision regarding a subject matter. Instead of giving out my reasoning behind the decision, though, I'll drum up some rule that is arguably arbitrary and explain it no further. I opt for that course of action rather than disclose my real reasons, which sound ridiculous to even me. For instance, rather than tell someone I just like the way two straws feels in my mouth (silly, but true), I devised two decades ago the "double or nothing" rule whereby I have to drink out of two straws or none at all--never just one. It's kind of like when I would buy magazines on photography which I know nothing about to cover up the teen magazines I used to buy. Instead of being straight-up about my thought process, i always have to add a layer of obfuscation to any somewhat simple decisions.
As my co-worker at Baly's used to say, I distrust simple decisions. If it doesn't involve meaty matters of ethics, reasoning, philosophy, or emotions I tend to become disinterested. And when I am presented with simple decisions I try to make it sound like I put a lot of thought into them than I actually did.
There's a reason one of my nicknames is Tricky.
That's why when presented with my latest dilemma over which new board game I should purchase I'm having such a rough time admitting that I do have a preference. On one hand the game I should buy and the one people in the know keep telling me I'll enjoy is a game called Le Havre. Designed by the same guy who did one of my favorite games of all-time, Agricola, Le Havre contains all the elements I like about a game. It involves a modicum of luck, concentrating mostly on an individual's prowess at long-term planning and short-term tactical skills. It also is dripping in theme and atmosphere where the players are rich business owners in the town of, where else, Le Havre, buying commodities, properties, and ships in order to be crowned the most successful. On paper this game looks perfect for me.
Snow Tails, on the other hand, is another game I want, but its far simpler in its goals. It's a card-driven boardgame about sled-dog racing. The aim is clear, finish ahead the other competitors, who play other sled dog racers. In comparison, the mechanics are very simple. You place one to three cards with different numbers. One number corresponds to the left dog, one number corresponds to the right dog, and one number corresponds to the brake. Add left to right and subtract the brake, and you get how far your sled moves. The complexity comes in the fact that if the left or right dog has a higher number than the other side your sled will veer to one side or the other--mimicking one dog pulling one side of the sled harder than the other. This produces a wide array of effects like drifting, drafting, and simple blocking techniques. In comparison, this game is more visceral and less academic. It's still not an easy game. I'd weight it more medium and Le Havre more medium-heavy to heavy. Basically, if Snow Tails were the SAT's, Le Havre would be the Bar Exam.
I like them both, but I'm leaning towards Snow Tails and I don't know why. Actually, I do, but the reason is ridiculous. The picture of snow dogs pulling sleds amuses my sense of childlike wonder than stuffy old suits in some French town, it's that simple. Agricola at least had some imagination to it; there's a lot to be said about 17th century farmers in Western Europe with their fences, stables, and animals running over the whole farm. What do you get to see in Le Havre? Wood, coal, and cattle and utilatarian buildings. Not my idea of an interesting theme.
But I feel weird admitting that. I feel bad saying that, even though Le Havre admittedly has the better mechanics and more closely challenges a person's intellect, the puppies in Snow Dogs are just so damn cute. LOL That's the equivalent of saying I prefer one school over the other because the former has better parties rather than a better curriculum.
So what will be the reason I give for getting Snow Tails over Le Havre if that's the direction I go in?
Why, I prefer Canada to France, of course. That's far better than saying I'm enthralled by the idea of sled-dog racing, which I am.
Yours Swimmingly,
mojo shivers
I'm a man of mercurial temperament. There are a lot of times when I'll place myself categorically in one camp or school of thought, only to reverse my position months or even weeks later. Yes, for the most part, on the weightier issues I tend towards stubbornness but on a great many subjects I fall to rule-making.Rule-making as many of my friends can point out is where I already have made a decision regarding a subject matter. Instead of giving out my reasoning behind the decision, though, I'll drum up some rule that is arguably arbitrary and explain it no further. I opt for that course of action rather than disclose my real reasons, which sound ridiculous to even me. For instance, rather than tell someone I just like the way two straws feels in my mouth (silly, but true), I devised two decades ago the "double or nothing" rule whereby I have to drink out of two straws or none at all--never just one. It's kind of like when I would buy magazines on photography which I know nothing about to cover up the teen magazines I used to buy. Instead of being straight-up about my thought process, i always have to add a layer of obfuscation to any somewhat simple decisions.
As my co-worker at Baly's used to say, I distrust simple decisions. If it doesn't involve meaty matters of ethics, reasoning, philosophy, or emotions I tend to become disinterested. And when I am presented with simple decisions I try to make it sound like I put a lot of thought into them than I actually did.
There's a reason one of my nicknames is Tricky.
That's why when presented with my latest dilemma over which new board game I should purchase I'm having such a rough time admitting that I do have a preference. On one hand the game I should buy and the one people in the know keep telling me I'll enjoy is a game called Le Havre. Designed by the same guy who did one of my favorite games of all-time, Agricola, Le Havre contains all the elements I like about a game. It involves a modicum of luck, concentrating mostly on an individual's prowess at long-term planning and short-term tactical skills. It also is dripping in theme and atmosphere where the players are rich business owners in the town of, where else, Le Havre, buying commodities, properties, and ships in order to be crowned the most successful. On paper this game looks perfect for me.
Snow Tails, on the other hand, is another game I want, but its far simpler in its goals. It's a card-driven boardgame about sled-dog racing. The aim is clear, finish ahead the other competitors, who play other sled dog racers. In comparison, the mechanics are very simple. You place one to three cards with different numbers. One number corresponds to the left dog, one number corresponds to the right dog, and one number corresponds to the brake. Add left to right and subtract the brake, and you get how far your sled moves. The complexity comes in the fact that if the left or right dog has a higher number than the other side your sled will veer to one side or the other--mimicking one dog pulling one side of the sled harder than the other. This produces a wide array of effects like drifting, drafting, and simple blocking techniques. In comparison, this game is more visceral and less academic. It's still not an easy game. I'd weight it more medium and Le Havre more medium-heavy to heavy. Basically, if Snow Tails were the SAT's, Le Havre would be the Bar Exam.
I like them both, but I'm leaning towards Snow Tails and I don't know why. Actually, I do, but the reason is ridiculous. The picture of snow dogs pulling sleds amuses my sense of childlike wonder than stuffy old suits in some French town, it's that simple. Agricola at least had some imagination to it; there's a lot to be said about 17th century farmers in Western Europe with their fences, stables, and animals running over the whole farm. What do you get to see in Le Havre? Wood, coal, and cattle and utilatarian buildings. Not my idea of an interesting theme.
But I feel weird admitting that. I feel bad saying that, even though Le Havre admittedly has the better mechanics and more closely challenges a person's intellect, the puppies in Snow Dogs are just so damn cute. LOL That's the equivalent of saying I prefer one school over the other because the former has better parties rather than a better curriculum.
So what will be the reason I give for getting Snow Tails over Le Havre if that's the direction I go in?
Why, I prefer Canada to France, of course. That's far better than saying I'm enthralled by the idea of sled-dog racing, which I am.
Yours Swimmingly,
mojo shivers
Labels: complexity, Le Havre, Nirvana, Snow Tails, Stress
posted by mojo shivers @ 2:18 AM
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